Weird-ass Performance Art (TM). Like the type done as some sort of Important Message (TM) — important only to the Performance Artiste (TM). Scotteriology, are you SURE this was from a church? Even the horror stories of Liturgical Dancing Clown Funeral Masses (TM) in The Spirit of Vatican II (TM) pale before this horror.

Not only is Lobster Boy wearing a really awful fursuit, he butchers that song completely. And what was with the background set right out of a Sixties Milton Bradley boardgame? And the snake handler in the neck-brace? And Little Miss Muffet as liturgical dancer?

This is Eye of Argon. This is Star Wars Holiday Special. This is Kirban’s 666 on a bad batch of Owsley Acid. Again, are you SURE this was in a church context?

Apparently the aim was to illustrate that life often seems to be bizarre, random and out of control. Unfortunately what was actually communicated was: the thinking of the drama team of Northridge Church is bizarre, random and out of control!

I would like to point out the above comment comes from someone who’s a big fan of both Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass — the originals) and H.P.Lovecraft (Cthulhu Mythos). C Alan Loewen is no stranger to the surreal.

Apparently (from reviewing the sermon on Northridge’s website) the point of the sketch was to show that life – no matter how hard you try to control it – can be unexplainable and random. And, without a doubt, the sketch was unexplainable, random and weird.

The set was a one week shot. Wow… Their Creative Arts team often spends up to 8 weeks preparing sets and costumes and lights, etc. for the weekend service. That’s a lot of money and effort…

I totally support the idea of creatively communicating the gospel, but the question comes to, “What is the Gospel”. Is it moralism? Is it “How to Have Your Best Life Now?” Is it good principles of life taught with a Scriptural rider? Is it a Broadway play with religious overtones? Is it Christ-centric or consumer driven?

Who knows… I’m glad for whatever positive effect that they are having in people’s lives and in the life of the community, but it certainly creates larger questions as to the role of the Kingdom of God and the local church and the role and purpose of the public presentation of Christ.

Aimee Semple McPherson would be proud. But at the same time I bet she would be deeply disturbed by the content of their presentation. I’m all for investing in liturgy – heck we do an elaborate sensory service every Good Friday, but I echo the concern over what is being presented. Aimee would want to know where the gospel was in all this.

At least then Lobster-Man could have been seen as the eco-prophet of doom railing against mankind’s rape of the abundance of the sea and soil while suggesting that corporate America has lulled us all into a drug-induced coma!

Here’s the lyrics for you non-JAphiles:

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you’re going to fall
Tell ’em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small

When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice
I think she’ll know

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen’s “off with her head!”
Remember what the dormouse said;
“Keep YOUR HEAD
Keep your head”